Controversial helipad torn down

A temporary helipad near Bethel Lake which was a source of controversy among nearby residents this past spring has been torn down.

The structure, located in a vacant field about three kilometres away from Health Sciences North's Ramsey Lake Health Centre, was built for use by air ambulances while the hospital's rooftop helipad was under repairs in May and June.

Hospital spokesperson Dan Lessard said in an email that the temporary helipad was torn down as of the end of July. The demolition took about three weeks to complete.

He said it cost about $200,000 in total to build and then decommission the temporary helipad, which was paid out of a capital project contingency fund provided by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Before the temporary helipad came into use, nearby residents had voiced concern at a public meeting about the noise and fumes it would create.

Because they were so upset, Health Sciences North senior vice-president Joe Pilon promised that the structure would be torn down after it was no longer needed.

He said at the time he had hoped the facility might be available for the hospital's use in the future, but it was evident “concerns were too high” to be able to do that.